Conrad Veidt - My Life

Conrad Veidt deserved a documentary so it is with interest that this one was found. Yet, it has been disappointing.

It goes though his pictures with partiality, insisting in certain ones while others are barely mentioned. It is narrated in first person with a heavy accent, which does not help. The narrative on his life typical of documentaries (birth, early years, marriages, exile from Nazi Germany) is missing except than saying that he insisted on portraying Nazis as mean.

This is a mere review of his filmography from a personal point of view.

Overall, too much speech on Jews and Nazis and too little on his artistic merits as an actor.

And beware, it is FULL of SPOILERS showing critical moments and also the end of many of his movies, in case if you haven´t watched them.

It is good that someone has cared to make an hommage to this great actor, but a Youtube video would better suit this purpose. Lacking research.

A mere glance on Veidt's filmography. There are no biographical notes, lacks depth and contains lots of spoilers. Narrated with a thick German accent as if done by Veidt himself - who, by the way, had a much better English pronunciation - with an obsession on certain matters and poorly written it is a wasted opportunity to throw some light on the life of this today almost forgotten actor whose career began in the early twentieth century and spanned almost three decades, including an assorted range of characters from his beginnings in silent movies. Main flaw is its lack of interest. Not what this fine actor deserved.

The only other 2 reviews seem to totally miss the point of this documentary. Yes, the gimmick of first person, accented narration can be a distraction, but only if you let it. If you know Viedt mainly as Major Strasser in Cadablanca and know little of the huge influence of German cinema, silent era and later this will be a revelation. Contains great insight into the influences his characters and films have had right through to the present day in everything from Batman villains to Disney animated features. And his recitation of film and social history takes us from the early films of Michael Powell in his pre-The Archers films with connections to the British Profumo Affair and other events. Many humorous observations on Hollywood, actors and directors and their careers.